Sustainable Water Integrated Management and Horizon 2020 Support Mechanism SWIM-H2020 SM Working for a Sustainable Mediterranean, Caring for our Future. This project is funded by the European Union
The SWIM-H2020 SM Project in a Snapshot Working for a Sustainable Mediterranean, Caring for our Future. Mediterranean Issues and Challenges The environmental problems of the Mediterranean are many, complex and interlinked. Uncontrolled coastal development, population growth, increasing tourism, loss of biodiversity and environmental pollution stemming from the above and from poor management of municipal waste, urban wastewater and industrial emissions, including their respective pressures to the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of surface and groundwater resources ending up in the Mediterranean, constitute major pressures on its marine and coastal environment. Their impact is particularly reflected in the land-sea interface, the coastal zone. In addition, economic and social crises, high refugee flows, in combination with climate variability and change have made it more difficult to deal with the accumulated problems. Renewed efforts to address the challenges are made within the SWIM-H2020 SM Project (Sustainable Water Integrated Management and Horizon 2020 Support Mechanism 2016-2019) jointly by the Mediterranean countries and the European Union. The SWIM-H2020 SM Project The SWIM-H2020 SM Project, funded by the European Union, aims to contribute to reduced marine pollution and a sustainable use of scarce water resources in the Mediterranean Region with emphasis on the countries of North Africa and the Middle East (Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, [Syria] and Tunisia). The Project is the continuation and merging of two successful previous EUfunded service contracts, Horizon 2020 Capacity Building/Mediterranean Environment Programme (H2020 CB/MEP) (2009-2014) and the Sustainable Water Integrated Management Support Mechanism (SWIM SM) (2010-2015).
The Project is to: Provide tailored and targeted technical assistance at national level based on partners requests through an Expert Facility; Organize regional (or sub-regional) peer-to-peer seminars and webinars; Conduct on-site training courses and study tours; Capitalize on the lessons learnt, good practices and success stories; Support the Horizon 2020 Initiative s governance mechanism and the work of the Union for the Mediterranean s Water Experts Group. In order to achieve: Positive changes in the design and implementation of the relevant national institutional, policy and regulatory frameworks; Enhancement of partner countries capacity to promote investment and business opportunities for properly managing municipal waste, industrial emissions and waste water; Facilitation of access to finance for selected sustainable investment projects; Strengthening of regional coherence and cooperation in approaches to marine pollution prevention and control, and sustainable water management; Identification, testing and sharing of best practices and success stories; Use of research results in policy making enhancement of more sustainable practices.
The SWIM-H2020 SM is structured around some key vertical and horizontal themes as depicted in the figure: Horizon 2020 Component Industrial Pollution Solid Waste Management Hazardous Waste Marine Litter Cross cutting Climate Change Environmental Integration Green Economy ICZM-IWRM Regulatory & Legal Frameworks Urban Wastewater Water-Energy-Food Nexus SWIM Component Assessment of Water Resources' Vulnerability & Related Risks Decentralized Water Management & Growth Sustainable Options & Interventions Water Valuation Ecosystem Approaches in IWRM Horizontal Capacity Building Dissemination Activities Education & Awareness Raising Stakeholders' Engagement Sustainable Investments' Facilitation
Framework of Cooperation The project is based on synergies, which are further developed and supported through: The SWIM-H2020 SM Focal Points (FPs) in the Ministries in charge of Water and Environment of the Partner Countries, which also constitute the SWIM-H2020 SM Steering Committee. Regional bodies forming the Institutional Partners of the project, namely: - the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), assisting on issues linked with the draft Strategy for Water in the Mediterranean, the Water Strategy in the Western Mediterranean (5+5), projects and investments related with Mediterranean pollution Hot Spots. - the Mediterranean Action Plan of UNEP (UNEP/MAP), supporting activities related to the Land Based Sources (LBS), the Hazardous Wastes and Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Protocols of the Barcelona Convention as well as the revised National Action Plans (NAPs). Relevant EU Institutions (including DG ENV, NEAR, Research, MARE, etc.) such as the European Investment Bank (EIB), which coordinates the Mediterranean Hot Spots Investment Programme II (MeHSIP II) and Agencies such as the European Environment Agency (EEA), which coordinates the Shared Environmental Information System (SEIS) South. Other Regional Initiatives and Projects (SwitchMed, ClimaSouth, etc.).
Identity Partner Countries: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, [Syria], Tunisia Participation of Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Mauritania, Montenegro and Turkey in regional activities will be considered. Contracting Authority: Directorate-General for Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR) SWIM-H2020 SM Team: Mr. Stavros Damianidis-Project Director, Prof. Michael Scoullos-Team Leader, Mrs. Suzan Taha-Water Expert, Mr. Anis Ismail-Environment Expert Implementing Consortium: LDK Consultants Engineers and Planners S.A. Greece (the lead company) Arab Countries Utilities Association (ACWUA). Jordan Arab Network for Environment and Development (RAED). Egypt Association of Cities & Regions for Recycling and Sustainable Resource Management (ACR+). Belgium Catalan Waste Agency (hosting institution of Regional Activity Centre for Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP/RAC)). Spain EEIG UT-SEMIDE. France GLOBE ONE LTD. Greece Haskoning DHV Nederland B.V. Netherlands LDK Consultants Europe S.A. Belgium Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development (MIO-ECSDE). Greece Milieu Ltd. Belgium National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Greece Umweltbundesamt GmBH. Austria WS Atkins International Ltd. United Kingdom Duration: 39 months (2016-2019) Budget: 6.625.000 Euros For further information: Project Director: Mr. Stavros Damianidis Team Leader: Prof. Michael Scoullos Website: www.swim-h2020.eu E: stavros@ldk.gr E: scoullos@swim-h2020.eu E: info@swim-h2020.eu Printed in recycled paper